According to media reports, Spanish state court is working on a European arrest warrant against deposed Catalan head of government Carles Puigdemont. Four or former ministers of Catalan regional government also wanted to write court with arrest warrant international, reported among ors Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia. Initially, television stations and newspapers had reported in same order that arrest warrant had already been issued. Later in evening it was said that judge had decided on arrest warrant, but official copy was still pending.

Against nine or former members of Cabinet, however, a judge had already issued arrest warrants, state court shared and justified this, among or things, with danger of escape and danger of it being possible to remove evidence. For one, U-detention should be suspended against bail. This is former Minister of Business relations, Santi Vila. He had resigned from his post shortly before adoption of a decision of independence by Catalan parliament.

Catalonia-conflict arrest warrants against Puigdemont and former cabinet members Spanish Generalstaatsanwaltscha has issued a warrant against Denabgesetzten Catalan head of government Carles Puidgemont and 14 of his former cabinet members. They had not appeared to a hearing in court. © PHOTO: Reuters/Rafael Marchante

The nine, against which court ordered arrest warrant, appeared in court on Thursday morning. Wher arrest warrants were already enforced against m was initially unclear. Puigdemont and or four ministers who were to be sought by European arrest warrant had not appeared in court. The former prime minister is in Brussels, and his four ex-ministers are to stay abroad.

The European arrest warrant simplifies and speeds up delivery of a suspect between two EU Member States. The judicial authorities are working directly toger to eliminate diplomatic path as in traditional extradition procedure. If reports are confirmed, EU countries in which y are looking should now be able to complete arrest warrant. The country in which wanted is arrested must extradite detainee within 60 days. In case of former head of regional government, Belgium would be.

Puigdemont wants to bow to European arrest warrant

The reason for indictment is unilateral declaration of Independence adopted by Catalan parliament last Friday. The central government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had subsequently deposed Catalan government. The economically strong region in norast of Spain is now under forced administration from Madrid.

In parallel to hearing before state court, hearings before Supreme Court in Madrid should also take place. There, ex-president of Catalan parliament, Carme Forcadell, and five or ex-members of Catalan parliament were to testify. However, hearing was postponed to 9 November.

Puigdemonts lawyer said on Thursday evening of news agency AP that he knew nothing of a European arrest warrant against his client. But Puigdemont would ask authorities if one were to be adopted. The former prime minister wanted to cooperate with Belgian police and judicial authorities, if necessary.

Catalonia-deposed government members return to Barcelona first working days in Catalonia under forced administration were without public protest and actions of civil disobedience, said Enric Millo, delegate of Spanish Government in Catalonia. © Photo: Andrej Sokolov/DPA Date Of Update: 03 November 2017, 12:02